Resources for Eco Friendly Commuting, Driving & Cars

Essentially you can achieve two things at once by going green; be more environmentally friendly and save money. Obviously it will depend on many factors. The best solution would be to avoid driving private vehicles whenever possible and use public transport facilities. However, this may not be desirable or practical at times. Then, people try to find fuel-efficient autos to cut their footprint and its effect on their wallets.

Cars are the number one culprits to gas emission. And there are as many vehicles as people in the USA. We face a scary picture when the obvious effects of burning fossil fuels multiplied with the sheer number of automobiles. Every little helps in controlling the damages. Here are some of the solutions;

environmentally kind travelling

  1. Using public transport more often, walking, cycling, biking, carpooling and telecommuting. Reducing private auto usage lowers the gas emission, simple.
  2. Improving car fuel efficiency is another simple solution that doesn’t require big lifestyle changes. But it can make a huge difference for the earth when everyone does their best. You use the same auto and do similar mileage but spend less petrol, thereby spending less money and helping the mother earth.
  3. Buying vehicles with a lower carbon footprint. Today, all sorts of vehicles from busses to waste collection trucks as well as automobiles have greener alternatives. And the level depends on the choice.

Here are some of the links for each of the solutions to check and learn from;

Resources for Commuting without Driving

Unfortunately, availability of trains and buses isn’t equally spread across the US or world. It is easy to find a bus or subway station nearby in New York, London, Paris and many other cosmopolitan cities. However, they get less frequent as you move away from cities. Then, other alternatives like carpooling, biking, telecommuting and arranging private group transfers for employees may be required.

Benefits of Alternative Commuting Programs for Businesses

Free Carpool Matching Website

Amtrak Train Routs and Times

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Car Related Resources 

There are ways of lowering consumption. If you must drive or like to then you can still be helpful by making a few adjustments to how you operate and maintain an automobile. In other words, you can still enjoy it but burn less petrol. These small adjustments will be huge help for the air we breath in and come with saving benefits if many motorists follow it. Even overall 1% reduction will be significant considering that there are more than one billion cars in the world.

Find and Compare Cars by Gas Mileage (MPG)

Green Vehicles

Of course, the best solution is choosing the lowest emission and economical automobile if you prefer private transport to public. Probably, only few people choose them purely based on their impact and running costs. Most people would need to find a good balance between attractiveness, price and side effects. For example, cutting running costs may not be sufficient to cover the additional purchase expense people have to pay for some hybrid cars. You should study its environmental impact and savings and test drive to make sure you like it. The idea is to get the most suitable car in your circumstances and still manage the burden.

EPA Green Vehicle Guide

Vehicle Impact & Cost Comparison Tool

Most and Least Efficient Vehicles

Hybrid or Electric Car Buying Guide

Choice of Cheap to Run Ford Cars

Learning Resources for Kids

It is parents’ and teachers’ duty to educate kids about eco system. Below links are for children looking to learn about ecological living and transportation.

How Can We Limit Our Carbon Footprint?

Games from Environmental Protection Agency

Most scientists concur and researches conclude that greenhouse gases contribute to global climate change, triggering droughts, forest fires, heat waves and melting of ice. Although cars are handy, there are other alternatives that will slow down disastrous effects on the planet.